The WHO says the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius is over after the final exposed contact completed quarantine and tested negative. The rare Andes virus outbreak infected 13 people and killed three.
Posts tagged as “South America”
The United States has designated Ecuador’s Chone Killers gang as a foreign terrorist organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Ecuador welcomed the move, which enables sanctions, asset freezes and possible criminal prosecution against those linked to the group.
Oliver Tree’s body has been returned to California after a deadly helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro. His family says it will honor his final wish by creating a grant in his name.
NOAA says El Niño has begun in the tropical Pacific, with a 63% chance it becomes one of the strongest events recorded since 1950. Scientists warn it could intensify global heat and disrupt weather, food supplies and economies into 2027.
The USDA confirmed New World screwworm larvae in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, and established a quarantine zone around the site. Officials say the parasite has been spreading north through Mexico, where more than 26,000 cases have been identified.
An Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus has led to 43 confirmed deaths in Congo and Uganda, with over 1,100 suspected cases under investigation. Brazil is monitoring two possible cases but assesses the risk of spread as very low.
Health officials confirm the Andes hantavirus found on the MV Hondius cruise ship matches known South American strains, with no signs of increased danger. Cases have been reported in France, Canada, and under investigation in the U.S., but the overall public risk remains low.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will personally oversee the evacuation of passengers from a hantavirus-affected cruise ship arriving in Tenerife. Despite three deaths and eight cases, officials say the public health risk remains low.